It is worth planning spring planting now so that the garden will be flooded with a riot of colors in the summer. Be sure to plant forgotten dahlias, which are the favorite flowers of many grandmothers. We present the most important information about dahlias, including their appearance, varieties, planting and cultivation.
Dahlias belong to perennial herbaceous bulbous plants from the Asteraceae or Asteraceae family. Their flowers are large or medium-sized, they can be double or single – it all depends on the variety.
They come in virtually all colors: red, pink, yellow, orange, white, burgundy, purple. The leaves of these specimens are quite large, pinnate, set on strong stems. The plants reach from 30 cm to even 2 m in height.
Their use in the garden is versatile. We can plant them in flower beds, in groups, or in rows. They provide a wonderful background for other garden plants.
Tall varieties will work well in covers, while short ones will work well in borders and in pots. Dwarf dahlias should be planted at the entrances to the house. They look great on the balcony or terrace. They are also suitable for bouquets (they will last a week in a vase).
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One of the most beautiful varieties of dahlias is the garden dahlia “Café au Lait” delightful with cream-peach flowers, the diameter of which is up to 25 cm. It is worth considering the “Little William” pompon dahlia, which has tiny, intensely orange flowers.
Or maybe jagged fuchsia petals? This is the cactus dahlia ‘Hollyhill Spider Woman’. In turn, lovers of darker colors should choose the burgundy decorative dahlia “Arabian Night”.
Dahlias are planted in the second half of April or early May. Then there is little risk of frost. Moreover, the earth is already properly heated.
We plant these plants in a sunny position. In full sun they produce extremely impressive flowers. The soil should be fertile, permeable and slightly moist with a reaction from slightly acidic to neutral. We recommend adding compost or manure to it.
Plant the tubers to a depth of 15 cm. We keep a distance of 40-60 cm between plantsdepending on their variety.
Dahlias should be watered regularly, especially during drought. We water them abundantly every 1-2 days, directing the water stream directly into the ground. Be careful not to wet their leaves and flowers.
We will prolong the flowering of plants if we remove faded inflorescences. This treatment stimulates dahlias to produce new buds. It is also worth mulching the soil to maintain the appropriate temperature and air humidity, which also translates into the release of new flowers.
We recommend fertilizing the specimens to support their flowering. We don’t have to buy store-bought fertilizers. Or fertilizer made from coffee grounds will work great.
